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Celebrating Indigenous Art at the World Junior Hockey Tournament

Author

Shane Brady
December 26, 2024

Hey hockey fans! The World Junior Hockey Tournament is in full swing, and this year, there’s something extra special happening off the ice. Instead of the usual Player of the Game awards, players are receiving beautifully crafted Indigenous paddles. How cool is that?

A Unique Twist on Tradition

Gone are the days of generic trophies and plaques. This year, the tournament organizers have teamed up with Indigenous artists to create one-of-a-kind paddles for the standout players.

Local Talent Scouted - Angela Wiggins

Angela With The Player of the Game Paddles
Photo By: Mark Limin

One of the standout artists contributing to this initiative is Angela Wiggins, a Belleville-based Indigenous artist of Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) heritage. Angela’s work is renowned for its vibrant colors and deep connection to nature and spirituality. Her piece, “Dancing with Spirit,” will be displayed at Ontario’s Legislative Assembly building throughout 2025 as part of the Art à la Carte program. Angela has been designated by the Canadian Council for the Arts as a First Nations Professional Artist, a testament to her exceptional talent and dedication to her craft.

Angela’s work was chosen to be part of this years tournament after a rigorous application and submission progress. After multiple rounds of submissions and design approvals, Angela was selected as one of the artists for the program.

Angela’s paddles for the tournament are more than just awards; they are a celebration of her heritage and artistic vision. Each design reflects her deep connection to her culture and the natural world, making these paddles not only beautiful but also deeply meaningful.

You can check out more of Angela’s art on her website and at these4walls art gallery in Trenton.

A Broader Cultural Impact

This initiative is part of a broader effort to recognize and celebrate Indigenous cultures within the sporting world. Alongside the paddles, Indigenous artists have also designed waist belts for the tournament’s volunteers, further embedding Indigenous art into the fabric of the event.

Check out this TikTok from “BarDown” for a closer look!

When To Watch

Here’s the schedule for Team Canada’s games in the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship:

These games are part of the preliminary round. If Canada advances, they will play in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and potentially the final, with dates and times to be determined based on their performance.

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